WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:04.759 Ute Legends and future Hall of Famer Eric Weddle on 2 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:05.799 a Wednesday afternoon. 3 00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:09.599 Ewent, happy Wednesday, man, how you doing doing amazing? 4 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:10.759 Thanks for having me on. 5 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:13.880 We can't say future Hall of Famer yet because we 6 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:15.519 don't know, you know, voting can. 7 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:20.239 Get crazy, so we'll say maybe soon. 8 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:20.280 To be. 9 00:00:22.280 --> 00:00:24.399 Hall of Famer would have a nice ring to it. 10 00:00:24.519 --> 00:00:27.800 Okay, fair enough, fair enough, I'm optimistic, you wed, but 11 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:31.120 I am not you. So I will ask you where 12 00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:34.240 were you when you found out this news and what 13 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:34.920 was your reaction? 14 00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:36.000 Because I always find. 15 00:00:35.799 --> 00:00:38.920 It interesting talking to people like you that have achieved 16 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:41.840 something like this, and you know, you hear a lot 17 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:45.079 of musicians or athletes or the people that have achieved 18 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:47.880 say things like my dreams never got there, Like I 19 00:00:47.960 --> 00:00:50.200 never really dreamed to be a Hall of Famer. 20 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:51.920 Was this a goal of yours? 21 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:54.640 Or is this one of those things, like a potential 22 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:57.320 accomplishment that you didn't even allow your mind to get to. 23 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:03.359 Yeah, I mean I don't. I don't think you're playing 24 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:05.519 a team sport. I don't think anyone goes in thinking 25 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:08.480 they want to end up a Hall of Famer. It's 26 00:01:08.519 --> 00:01:11.079 just kind of you know, I could be wrong. Maybe 27 00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:14.840 maybe it's like Deon Sanders might have thought that because 28 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:19.239 he was just that incredibly talented and knew that of 29 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:22.439 himself early on. But for myself, it was just man 30 00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:26.200 living living, living it up and having an opportunity to 31 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:30.560 play college ball is where few and far between get that. 32 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:33.319 So I was trying to make the most every day, 33 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:36.120 and then you know, those things kind of fall into 34 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:41.840 place when you're around good people, great coaches, great university, 35 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:46.920 great teammates. Like it never happens by yourself, especially in football. 36 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:49.680 So if something like this ever does happen for me, 37 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:51.480 it's it's definitely a group effort. 38 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:53.319 Where were you when you heard the news and what 39 00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:54.000 was your reaction? 40 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:58.040 He went, well, Mark Harlan actually reached out to me, 41 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:01.000 shot me a text like, oh, this is great first step. 42 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:02.560 In getting into the college Football Hall of Fame. 43 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:05.159 And I didn't know what he was talking about, so 44 00:02:05.319 --> 00:02:08.439 I was doing some other things and I didn't responded 45 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:10.280 back because I didn't know if it was meant for 46 00:02:10.360 --> 00:02:11.000 me or someone else. 47 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:14.080 Because I didn't I didn't have like there was. 48 00:02:14.039 --> 00:02:16.199 No news at the time, and then of course the 49 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:20.599 posts started coming out in the news stating that I 50 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:25.240 was a finalist for it. So I was just out 51 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:27.599 at the high school with the football team. We just 52 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:30.800 finished up spring ball, so just coaching these kids up 53 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:35.479 and I got the news, and you know, it's humbling, obviously, 54 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:41.599 it's exciting, and again it's not not ever done. No 55 00:02:41.719 --> 00:02:44.639 success on the football that happens because of the individual. 56 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:47.400 It's always about the team. So I just think about 57 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:49.520 my teammates and think about the team. I think about 58 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:53.080 the love of Utah that I have in that university, 59 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:55.759 and just thankful that I ended up at the place 60 00:02:55.800 --> 00:02:57.319 that I was meant to be at. 61 00:02:57.639 --> 00:03:00.759 Have you allowed yourself to think about out what that 62 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:02.800 phone call would be like if you hear that you 63 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:04.080 have indeed been inducted. 64 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:05.599 Have you allowed your mind to go there? 65 00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:07.199 Nah? 66 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:08.039 Nah, I don't. 67 00:03:09.159 --> 00:03:09.479 I don't. 68 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:13.159 I don't think too far ahead. And and uh, I'm 69 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:15.240 a I'm a guy that hopes for the best but 70 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:16.360 prepared for the worst. 71 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:20.639 So I don't let myself get too far down that 72 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:24.759 road because it's just it's not my mentality. 73 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:27.520 When it happens, it'll be it'll be fresh, and it'll 74 00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:30.599 be new, and and I'll enjoy it if it happens, 75 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:32.520 and if not, then I'll just go about my day 76 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:33.159 like I always do. 77 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:34.479 That's a great attitude. 78 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:36.719 But I will follow up with what would it mean 79 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:39.199 to you if you do get that call and the 80 00:03:39.240 --> 00:03:41.439 news is you're in man, what would that mean to you? 81 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:50.039 Well, you know it's it's uh, it means you're you're 82 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:56.400 an all time great, You're you're you less lasting impression 83 00:03:56.639 --> 00:04:00.360 on the field and off of. Very few do and 84 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:03.039 I think I don't know. I think the numbers around 85 00:04:03.080 --> 00:04:06.719 thirteen hundred college Football Hall of Famer So to be. 86 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:09.080 In that mix and to be said and looked. 87 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:11.159 At as a Hall of Famer is a very very 88 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:17.279 unique and humbling proposition. So it's it's to really wrap 89 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:17.879 your head around. 90 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:20.160 It is kind of hard. It's kind of hard to 91 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:24.160 do because I don't, you know, people know me. I 92 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:26.319 don't look at myself in that instance. 93 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:28.680 I think I put it all out there, and I 94 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:31.160 think in the college I said this a couple of 95 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:31.600 days ago. 96 00:04:31.720 --> 00:04:33.639 I think the College Football Hall of Fame I could 97 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:34.160 sit there. 98 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:35.680 And say, yeah, I think I was one of the 99 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:39.319 best in that sense where I could be labeled as 100 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:41.000 a Hall of Fame. Now, the NFL is a whole 101 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:45.160 different animal. Which I don't think in my opinion. 102 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:47.319 But the college football Like I could sit there and say, yeah. 103 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:51.120 I belong with one of the best in those names 104 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:55.120 that are enshrined, So it would be incredible and humbling, 105 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:59.959 and truly I would probably be lost forwards. 106 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:01.120 I'm being honest. 107 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:03.519 Okay, I'm glad you said what you just said, because 108 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:05.839 I was going to follow up with this, like you 109 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:09.000 do know that you are an all time great, right, 110 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:12.000 Like you're aware of exactly what you mean to the 111 00:05:12.040 --> 00:05:13.040 program around here? 112 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:14.600 Correct? 113 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:22.040 Well, I mean yeah, I know it, and I'm loved 114 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:26.000 and you know that place is a very special place 115 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:26.480 in my heart. 116 00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:32.240 So it's I know. Now, there are so many great players, 117 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:36.399 So where do you rank them? I kind of in 118 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:40.040 the old adage of Jordan of you know, rank me 119 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:42.040 where you rank them, But you can't put me ahead 120 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:45.399 of people that played twenty years before me, thirty forty 121 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:47.639 fifty years. Like, I respect the game way too much, 122 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:51.319 but I do know I'm loved and appreciated. I know 123 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:52.560 that around the university. 124 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:55.439 Okay, okay, fair enough, fair enough, because I mean I 125 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:58.439 appreciate the attitude, I respect the endeavor. But as a player, 126 00:05:58.480 --> 00:06:02.519 you were a killer you know you were, So I 127 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:04.839 wonder how you balance out being such a killer on 128 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:07.480 the field while maintaining more of a balanced approach just 129 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:08.160 as a human. 130 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:13.920 Well, I mean that you cross that white line. At 131 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:16.680 any point in my career, whether I was a true 132 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:21.040 freshman at the University of Utah or fourteenth year coming 133 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:25.959 off the street two years retired, my goal in mindset was, 134 00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:32.040 I'm I'm here to annihilate my opposition. I'm not here 135 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:35.519 to make friends. I'm not here when it's my job 136 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:37.639 is on the line. Yes, when I get off the 137 00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:41.560 white line, I'm a great teammate, and I love my 138 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:43.839 teammates and this and that. But my I have a 139 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:47.120 job to do, and it's every rep is a chance 140 00:06:47.160 --> 00:06:50.040 to prove that I belong on this field, leading this team. 141 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:54.040 So it's a very easy switch to turn on and off, 142 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:56.199 as I learned to do over the course of my 143 00:06:56.240 --> 00:07:00.240 college years and then in the NFL. But it's it's 144 00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:03.439 a doggy dog world, and if you don't have that mindset, 145 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:05.759 you will get eaten up and spit out. And so 146 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:08.720 I'd rather be on the other side of eating than 147 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:09.759 getting spit out. 148 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:13.199 I wonder I want to ask this today because I 149 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:16.759 come from a family eric where I am the oldest 150 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:19.279 of six and I am the only one of the 151 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:21.519 six that went to the University of Utah. The other 152 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:25.480 five all went to BYU and they all married, They 153 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:29.920 all married spouses. They met at BYU and they all, sure. 154 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:33.439 You're you're outnumbered, my friend, Oh I am. 155 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:35.639 I chose truth? He wet is how I like to 156 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:38.439 put it. Uh, you know, obviously I like to rip them. 157 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:40.639 And I mean, look, it's all love, it's all good. 158 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:44.480 And you know, a lot of the coaches down there, 159 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:47.680 and they are all of my brothers, they went to BYU. 160 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:51.319 They always say you're the ute that they wish was 161 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:54.000 a cougar, and you're the ute that they just cannot 162 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:57.800 say anything negative about. Does that jive with your experience? 163 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:00.959 Does it feel like you have that universe respects from 164 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:02.560 both these fan bases up here. 165 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:08.920 Well, I think it's it's you know, to hear that 166 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:13.560 is really it makes me smile. It makes me. I 167 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:15.800 don't like to say it like in moments where you're 168 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:18.959 proud of yourself, but I truly am proud of how 169 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:22.240 I try to represent myself and my family and my name, 170 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:25.319 my last name and even more so in the grand 171 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:27.439 scheme of things. We're all here for a purpose, and 172 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:28.920 we can get all riled up, and at the end 173 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:32.440 of the day, it's about respecting your opponent no matter what, 174 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:38.279 and speaking and treating your opponent in that type of fashion. 175 00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:41.440 I want to be treated as how others treat me, 176 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:45.360 and so to hear that I do, smile and I 177 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:48.639 and I and I am proud of that because I 178 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:52.240 tried to represent myself in a way that most people 179 00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:54.720 will be proud to have me on their team, regardless 180 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:58.240 of the rivalry. And shoot, I am so close with 181 00:08:58.519 --> 00:09:03.600 coaches on both sides, even at BIU talk to those 182 00:09:03.639 --> 00:09:08.639 guys right just as much. And those men that are 183 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:13.120 in those leadership roles mentoring roles, I tip my hat 184 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:15.480 to all of them, especially the ones that I love 185 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:18.919 and care for, because they are men that I look 186 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:22.960 up to and that are changing the trajectory of these 187 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:27.759 young men. And so both programs have great men that 188 00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:30.399 are lead them and women that are within the facility 189 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:33.120 and doing all the great things like they're really top 190 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:37.600 notch programs that I am awesome to be affiliated with 191 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:38.919 through friendships and family. 192 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:43.519 I wonder if you feel comfortable because the relationships you 193 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:46.679 have with your former coaches and teammates, that's, you know, 194 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:50.480 that's a sacred space. And I have been close enough 195 00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:53.320 in in locker rooms and around teams that I respect 196 00:09:53.320 --> 00:09:55.840 that space. But I wonder if you'd feel comfortable sharing 197 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:58.960 whether or not you heard from Morgan or coach with 198 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:01.320 or Coloni when the news came down that you're on 199 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:03.679 the Hall of Fame ballot. What other phone calls did 200 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:04.159 you receive? 201 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:10.720 You Yeah, Coach Witt of course reached out and congratulated me, 202 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:16.480 And on both sides, anyone that knows me or or 203 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:19.960 is close with me reached out. 204 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:24.200 But they also know me as well that it's not 205 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:27.399 a done deal, so they'll probably want to save the 206 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:33.200 congratulateary the congratulations to when it's a final seid and done. 207 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:35.440 So they know me as well that I'm probably not 208 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:38.559 missing a beat until it becomes final. 209 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:40.919 Tell me how the coaching stuff is going. 210 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:43.840 Last time we talked to you, you you know, you 211 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:47.519 kind of outlined the early returns of this new endeavor 212 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:50.519 of yours, And I wonder if any of these young 213 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:53.519 men who you are coaching have any idea what sort 214 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:55.159 of killer you really were as a player. 215 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:01.759 I think the young generation each year that goes by, 216 00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:04.200 I could care less about who their head coaches and 217 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:08.279 what he used to be. And sometimes I have to 218 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:13.440 remind them in a positive way that I'm here to 219 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:16.159 help them and guide them and take it for what 220 00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:19.879 it's worth. Some of them goes one year out the other. 221 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:25.200 But the few that actually take it and will be 222 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:27.679 better from it, and those are the those are the 223 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:28.279 ones that you're. 224 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:29.000 Really going to impact. 225 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:32.519 Can't impact them all, you try to, but the few 226 00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:35.399 that want it on and off the field, and and 227 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:39.559 try to build these young men into future fathers and 228 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:44.679 husbands of the future. That's really the ultimate goal. And uh, 229 00:11:45.320 --> 00:11:49.279 you know these these kids nowadays, they got so much 230 00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:53.240 going on that football and or the history of who 231 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:58.480 their coach maybe is way down the list of prioritizing things. 232 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:03.720 Yeah, uh, your boy is Gauge, correct, that's your son, Yes, sir, 233 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:05.679 you still have him in the program and if show 234 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:06.320 how's that going? 235 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:14.159 Yeah he's uh. He's gonna be a sophomore coming up. Yeah, yeah, 236 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:20.000 he's uh. He is a fun, fun kid to be around. 237 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:26.120 His passion, his work ethic, how he leads, he's uh 238 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:29.000 he's got a chance to be special, and I'm just 239 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:31.879 along for the ride and trying to help guide him 240 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:35.480 as best I can, and excited for this year to 241 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:39.399 lead our team. And he's put in the work on 242 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:42.399 and off the field and really put his best footy 243 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:45.159 foot forward to have a great year on offensive defense. 244 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:48.399 So uh, we got We've got a good group coming 245 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:53.360 back in the UH connected unit. Gotta stay healthy, obviously, 246 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:56.200 but we have a chance to be really good and 247 00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:00.559 we'll see where his uh, his journey takes him over 248 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:01.480 the next few years. 249 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:03.159 You play like his dad at all. 250 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:07.639 He's better than me, wow, when I was at this 251 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:14.039 point in high school. So he's a bigger, probably more 252 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:17.360 physical version of myself. You know, he's he's six to two, 253 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:19.799 he's one hundred and eighty five pounds now and getting 254 00:13:19.799 --> 00:13:20.679 big and strong. 255 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:23.080 So he's uh. 256 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:26.200 I can only hope and dream that h'll have a 257 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:30.320 better high school college and if he could ever make 258 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:32.000 it better career than I ever did. 259 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:36.080 What sort of see, it's such a delicate balance, I mean, 260 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:40.559 what sort of advice do you give him? What sort 261 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:42.679 of I mean, because I'm a parent too, When you 262 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:45.279 really learn as they grow the best thing you can 263 00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:48.840 do is be guardrails, and you know, it's like bumper 264 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:51.080 lanes and bowling and they're the ball. You're there to 265 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:53.519 make sure they kind of stay in the lane, but 266 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:56.120 you can't roll the ball down the middle for them. 267 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:59.000 So what's it been like to watch this young man 268 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:01.200 grow and evolve as a player, and how do you 269 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:04.159 balance that as somebody that played and won at the 270 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:05.120 highest of levels. 271 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:09.360 When it comes to the advice you dispensed him, well. 272 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:13.200 I just try to remind them that no matter what, if. 273 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:16.600 You don't have fun and you don't love the game 274 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:20.519 and everything that entails, and what's the point. The game 275 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:25.960 is beautiful when it's purest form. So trying to remind 276 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:28.080 him that, and I think he does a good job 277 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:32.679 of that, but he just he wants to be so good, 278 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:34.440 and I think he puts a lot of pressure on 279 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:39.840 himself that. Reminding him that it's it's about managing the mishaps, 280 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:42.519 the negative plays and how you rebound from that and 281 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:46.519 how you control your emotions from a play to play 282 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:48.720 basis is something that I think he's going to grow 283 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:52.840 to be able to handle and really make that strength. 284 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:59.759 But you know, he's it's just it's you know, last 285 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:04.120 year was the delicate situation being a freshman and being 286 00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:09.679 the head coach. But I'm not gonna be apologetic for 287 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:14.200 one of my best players, and it just so happens 288 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:16.639 to be my son. Like, I'm not gonna sit here 289 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:20.240 and not give him positive feedback or be excited when 290 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:22.919 he makes a great play on the field, or do 291 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:25.600 this and that because of the optics. I'm not doing 292 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:28.919 that anymore. So I'm gonna be proud. And I only 293 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:31.559 get to coach him three more years, and I'm gonna 294 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:34.360 enjoy every second of it because I'm not doing this 295 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:37.480 for anything other than trying to get back to the kids. 296 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:40.120 And he just happens to be one of our better 297 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:42.639 players that does everything right. I shouldn't have to apologize 298 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:42.960 for that. 299 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:45.519 No, you shouldn't. You should never have put You should 300 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:47.639 revel in it. You should be proud of it. You 301 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:51.240 should enjoy the entire situation. I've got his socials up, 302 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:53.720 and I see as a freshman, he was your starting 303 00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:57.600 quarterback and also starting safety, and he has schools calling 304 00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.759 already right, looks like he's got some offers in his 305 00:15:59.799 --> 00:16:01.879 back talkt already, even only as a freshman. 306 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:07.039 Yeah, I mean it's uh, it's it kind of came 307 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:08.320 came at a whirlwind. 308 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:08.519 You know. 309 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:15.679 The recruiting starts way early nowadays, especially if you know, 310 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:18.519 if you're a freshman playing on varsity and you play well, 311 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:21.919 schools are gonna find you and they're gonna they're gonna 312 00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:25.759 start getting their feelers out and let you know that 313 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:29.399 that you're on their on their radar. So he's got 314 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:31.399 a long ways to go, and he understands that that 315 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:35.440 this these offers are basically saying like, we're interested in you, 316 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:38.720 and if you keep developing and keep getting better and 317 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:41.080 improving over the next couple of years, then these this 318 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:46.240 could be a reality. But oftentimes the attention comes with 319 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:48.960 these young kids, they go the other way and they 320 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:52.080 they don't stay humble, and they don't stay hungry, and 321 00:16:52.600 --> 00:16:55.879 they become entitled and they feel like they've arrived when 322 00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:58.799 that's not reality. You have a bullseeye in your back. 323 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:01.000 Even more so for him for who his dad is, 324 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:05.680 that he's got outwork and outplay everyone every day. You 325 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:08.559 can't ever let up because that'll be the opportunity that 326 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:12.880 someone comes and takes your job or takes your playing time. 327 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:16.680 And or takes that scholarship. So he has a good 328 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:22.440 sense of that and he appreciates the love per se, 329 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:24.480 but he knows he has a long way to go. 330 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:25.359 To make it a reality. 331 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:30.880 I noticed earlier, EWD, you recently turned forty, so welcome 332 00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:33.960 to our club. I am a little a little more 333 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:37.440 advanced than you are, but I'm still in the forties area, 334 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:41.079 So welcome to the forties. And it's been a minute 335 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:43.960 since you went through the recruiting stuff. I wonder what 336 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:47.440 the main differences are that you've noticed, because college football 337 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:50.480 is much different now than it was in two thousand 338 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:52.759 and one, two thousand and two when you were being recruited. 339 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:55.960 What are the main differences between what you see Gauge 340 00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:58.039 and his teammates going through and what you went through 341 00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:58.720 back in the day. 342 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:02.720 Yeah, I mean, that's a great question. I right, spend 343 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:06.599 quite an hour talking about the differences and trying to 344 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:11.559 navigate the landscape of recruiting now. I mean, I took 345 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:14.960 my official visit to the University of Utah in December 346 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:19.480 and ended up committing that week, a month before signing day. 347 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:25.640 Where now a lot of times these these players, depending 348 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:28.440 on positions, depending on need, et cetera, et cetera, can 349 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:36.000 be committing sophomore junior season. Uh so it's it's definitely changed. 350 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:40.960 And with the NIL, you know, the programs that emphasize 351 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:46.319 culture and loyalty and being a part of the community 352 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:50.519 and the university is much more appealing to me because 353 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:53.480 I'm a little old school. But you know, some schools 354 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:57.000 aren't that way. So it's it's hey, we need you, 355 00:18:57.400 --> 00:18:59.640 we want you, how much can I pay you? Where 356 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:02.599 in the grand scheme of things, this is a huge 357 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:07.640 decision on not only what happens on the field, but 358 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:11.559 the relationships and connections you make off the field and 359 00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:14.559 how you represent yourself. And it goes both ways, right like, 360 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:17.359 after a year, the school may tell you that you're 361 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:19.279 never going to play, so you want to hit the portal, 362 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:22.160 and then other cases that you want more money and 363 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:24.519 this and that. So it's just so many different dynamics. 364 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:28.599 I just try to remind all my kids engage when 365 00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:29.359 he gets to that point. 366 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.960 It's just the. 367 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:34.160 Connection and where do you see yourself for four years? 368 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:39.720 Right Like, where do you want to build the relationships 369 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:45.200 and build a legacy on this endeavor? Right Like, it's 370 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:48.200 not about the money. It's not about where I can 371 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:51.920 get this or that, obviously, it's it's about the you know, 372 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:56.400 x'es and o's and systems and offense and defense and 373 00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:58.240 the staff and who's going to be coaching me and 374 00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:00.519 the culture and this and that blah blah blah. But 375 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:04.400 outside that's what do you want? What is your last 376 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:07.200 impression on you? Like, what do you want to be 377 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:11.240 represented by? And what do you want to be remembered by? 378 00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:14.160 You want to be remembered by chasing the next best 379 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:17.079 thing or staying where your feet are and growing and 380 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:22.359 dealing with adversity and dealing with competition and maybe falling down. 381 00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.920 Are you going to get back up? Or are you 382 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:26.480 going to run to the next best thing? Like, So, 383 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:29.720 those are the things that I try to look at 384 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:33.440 and try to educate our kids. And it's not me though. 385 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:36.160 It's Gauge's decision and his journey. I'm just trying to 386 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:37.680 help him. At the end of the day, it's going 387 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.079 to be him and. 388 00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.599 What he wants. 389 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:43.519 But I know deep down that whatever decision, when if 390 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:46.559 it comes to that, it he's fortunate enough to have 391 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:49.519 a decision that he'll do it for the right reasons. 392 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:51.799 I'm quite sure that. 393 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:55.519 Are you fans listening after they heard you say Gauge 394 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:58.640 is a bigger, stronger version of me, are waiting for 395 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:01.119 me to ask you if that's the case. Is there 396 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:03.920 any chance this young man plays his college ball in 397 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:04.680 Salt Lake City? 398 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:06.119 And if so, what would that mean to you? 399 00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:15.599 Yeah? I mean Gade is a He's a big thinker 400 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:18.880 in the sense that he wants to be better than 401 00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:24.240